2019—1 year—365 days of new opportunities

cj Sez: Can you believe the new year is 2019? 

". . . and I still have so many unanswered questions! I haven’t found out who let the dogs out...where the beef is ...how to get to Sesame Street... why Dora doesn’t just use Google Maps...Why all flavors of fruit loops taste exactly the same, or how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop...why eggs are packaged in a flimsy carton, but batteries are secured in plastic that’s tough as nails... why “abbreviated” is such a long word; or why is there a D in ‘fridge’ but not in refrigerator... why lemon juice is made with artificial flavor yet dish washing liquid is made with real lemons... why they sterilize the needle for lethal injections... why is it that when you “put your two cents in,” you only get a “penny for your thoughts” … and where’s that extra penny going? ... why does The Alphabet Song and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star have the same tune... why did you just try to sing those two previous songs... and what exactly is Victoria’s secret? …does anyone know where Waldo is?... Can you hear me now?... and …"

  Okay, I admit. I’m not really that witty. I stole this from a Facebook friend who got it from someone said to have stolen it from her brother’s girlfriend’s, uncle’s cousin who lived next door to an old classmate’s mailman. (Yeah, right.) 

   The stories in HOMETOWN HEROES, A Christmas Anthology are not just seasonal. Their uplifting messages can be enjoyed year-round. The highly rated anthology is still available (free on Kindle Unlimited) here: https://amzn.to/2Rrdy7b 

After you’ve read the stories, I hope you will consider writing a review. (Please and thank you.)

cj Sez: That’s it for the last post of 2018. I wish you a new year of days filled with God’s blessings of health, peace, prosperity, and success in all your endeavors.

cjpetterson/author on Facebook   

Find my books on

Amazon Central Author Page =  https://amzn.to/2v6SrAj

Simon&Schuster Author Page = https://bit.ly/2uo1M0Z

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

From my house to yours, Merry Christmas

  

I pray your celebrations are filled to the brim 

with the love of family and friends.

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

cj petterson

Contest Scams: Things to Look For

cj Sez: Hometown Heroes, A Christmas Anthology is a perfect holiday gift. 

  Buy a copy (the Kindle is still 99 cents) and make a donation to the Cajun Navy organization with one click of the mouse . . . a portion of the proceeds benefits the Cajun Navy, a volunteer group of neighbors helping neighbors in times of distress.

***

   Writers seeking recognition, especially unpublished writers, often enter writing contests in hopes of winning both recognition and a cash prize.

   Unfortunately, not all writing contests are legitimate. This article from Wiki How to Do Anything offers tips on things to look for:

 “Think twice before sending money. If the terms of a contest demand a fee to enter, read the fine print and investigate the contest sponsor. Most often, not always, but often enough to raise red flags, paying money to submit your work involves a scam. There are many people in the literary world who believe no writer should ever pay a fee when submitting work for consideration. A healthy publishing environment seeks new, talented writers and pays them for their work; the writer is not asked to pay for the privilege of someone reading his or her work. 
   Here are some common reasons contest sponsors give for charging an entry fee:” 

https://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Writing-Contest-Scams

***

   If, like me, you’re remembering a loved one who isn’t with you this Christmas, here’s a wonderful poem from police procedural expert Lee Lofland that speaks to a lifetime of loving memories. The following excerpt begins a touching verse that is sure to touch your heart.

“It seems like just yesterday when they were last here,
Sharing their laughter and their love,Playing silly games and offering warm hugs.” 

   Read the entire beautiful piece here:

https://www.leelofland.com/its-almost-christmas-but-theyre-no-longer-here/

***

   Great reviews for HOMETOWN HEROES continue to stream … and here’s one of the 5-Stars:  

“Hometown Heroes: A Christmas Anthology is a wonderful set of stories that I loved reading. Having stories that are set around Christmas and then adding in some romance gives you that heartwarming feeling that the season is all about. There is no doubting the magic of the season as you read each story. The woman in these tales are fiery, independent, and strong. While the stories are not long they have enough emotion in them that I found myself with misty eyes and a smile on my face. I found that these stories stayed with me and I thought about them even after I had finished the anthology. Some are set in the past and others are in the present day. All make a lasting impression on your soul. I have read stories by some of the authors and enjoyed reading stories by them again. I also have discovered new authors and look forward to reading more of their writing. This is a wonderful group of stories that have amazing characters. Highly recommended.”

   Buy Hometown Heroes, a Christmas Anthology here: https://amzn.to/2Rrdy7b 

   After you’ve read the stories, I hope you consider writing a review. (Please and thank you.)

   That’s it for this week’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

cjpetterson/author on Facebook   

A book is a gift that gets opened again and again and again.

Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes has one of my favorite childhood memories in it. "Dancing with Daddy" is written under my maiden name.

The anthology is still available on Kindle.  https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k

You can find more of my books on

Amazon Central Author Page =  https://amzn.to/2v6SrAj

Simon&Schuster Author Page = https://bit.ly/2uo1M0Z

Elements of a romance novel

cj Sez: Hometown Heroes, A Christmas Anthology launched Dec 4 . . .

   The contemporary romance stories in Hometown Heroes are all about the magic of love, the embodiment of the Christmas season. For anyone thinking about writing a romance story, I picked up the following quote several years ago (source is long lost):

"Writing a romance novel is a creative process and far from formulaic. But romance readers pick up each and every novel with certain expectations firmly in place. To write a winning romance, you have to meet these expectations each and every time:
*         A sympathetic heroine
*         A strong, irresistible hero
*         Emotional tension
*        An interesting, believable plot
*         A happy ending"

***

Reviews for Hometown Heroes are streaming in…an excerpt from one lovely and long review follows…and they tell me that the anthology met romance aficionados’ expectations. Be sure and let me know what you thought.

   “All the stories are so engaging and believable- with wonderfully written plots, and well developed characters. I have read books by several of these talented authors before- but three of the authors were new to me… so I was excited to not only read the work of the authors I knew and loved, but also get an introduction to some authors who are new to me. So, settle down for some wonderful reading, which will entice you with heartfelt romance, some suspense, a bit of mystery, history, some paranormal, action, drama, adventure, and more. 

   "There is something here for everyone! I really recommend this Anthology- you won’t regret buying it! It is worth every cent of the purchase price- and by purchasing this anthology you will be helping out a charity in the process, as a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Cajun Navy Relief! #Win-Win! Thank you to all the contributing authors!”

Buy Hometown Heroes, a Christmas Anthology here: https://amzn.to/2Rrdy7b 

***

After you’ve read the stories, I hope you will consider writing a review. (Please and thank you.)

That’s it for this week’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

A book is a gift that gets opened again and again and again. Here are some for your consideration:

Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes

The anthology is still available on Kindle.  https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k

Choosing Carter    https://amzn.to/2CJxs8Z

Deadly Star   https://amzn.to/2O8NFGZ

The Posse, a Western anthology   https://amzn.to/2EKUA9B

Pieces, a Mobile Writers Guild Anthology  https://amzn.to/2Dk84Yr

Two days until launch, MWA, and . . .

cj Sez:  Only two more days until the launch of Hometown Heroes, A Christmas Anthology.

Available now on Amazon

   "HOMETOWN HEROES, A Christmas Anthology" is scheduled to launch on Dec. 4, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Cajun Navy. I'm excited to be one of the authors in the book and to share my contemporary romance short story titled "Hobbes House Noel."

   As of the time of this blog post, the Kindle version is 99 cents and Kindle Unlimited is free. Paperback will also be available. 

https://amzn.to/2Rrdy7b 

   After you’ve read the stories, I hope you will consider writing an Amazon review. (Please and thank you.)

***

“Mystery Writers of America Withdraws Fairstein Award  November 29, 2018 – New York, NY – On Tuesday, November 27, Mystery Writers of America announced the recipients of Grand Master, Raven & Ellery Queen Awards, special awards given out annually. Shortly afterwards, the MWA membership began to express concern over the inclusion of Linda Fairstein as a Grand Master, citing controversy in which she has been involved.”

Read more here: https://bit.ly/2zzfe7N

***

Hallmark Publishing news

“Hallmark Publishing is not currently open to unagented submissions. However, we will have a reading period for unagented submissions of full-length novels in February 2019.
 Follow us on Twitter, @HallmarkPublish, to be the first to learn about future calls for submissions.”

cj Sez: Do you have what Hallmark is looking for and don't have an agent? If so, mark your calendar for February 2019, and when you’re ready to submit your novel, go to Hallmark submissions:

 http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/hallmark-publishing/write-for-us

***

   If you tried the NaNoWriMo challenge, I hope you met the goal you set for yourself. Now go rest a while. I didn’t try, but I did do some writing in November, two short stories in fact. One was a revision/edit of a personal essay I had posted on Lyrical Pens years ago. The other was brand new from the first word to the last, both in idea and in genre: I attempted my first cozy mystery. That was the one I had the most fun writing.

   Both of the anthology publishers had November 30 deadlines, so I was working without a critique group or beta readers, but I took a chance and submitted the stories anyway.

   Now comes the waiting. Will they or won’t they (be accepted). Of course, I’d love for them to be accepted for publication, but I can tell you I had fun writing them. If they’re not accepted, I’ll file them away for a while and work on them again when I can get more eyes on the manuscripts.

   Have you submitted any of your work recently? Are you working on something to submit soon?

   That’s it for this week’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

   A book is a gift that gets opened again and again and again. Here are some of my stories for your consideration:

Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes

The anthology is still available on Kindle.  Buy button   https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k

Choosing Carter    https://amzn.to/2CJxs8Z

Deadly Star   https://amzn.to/2O8NFGZ

The Posse, a Western anthology   https://amzn.to/2EKUA9B

Pieces, a Mobile Writers Guild Anthology   https://amzn.to/2Dk84Yr

A bit about self-editing

cj Sez: Writers live and writhe on reviews . . .

but this note from one of my Facebook friended authors puts reviews into perspective:

“You have officially arrived when someone makes a Goodreads account JUST to one-star your book that isn't even out yet. Ha! Do watch for the trolls, ladies. They are everywhere.”

   The moral is: We want them, solicit them, need them, but take your reviews with a grain of salt.  

 

   Author/editor Joyce Sterling Scarbrough gave a wonderful presentation on self-editing to the Mobile Writers Guild recently. She left us with a slew of important tips, and I thought I’d share this one:

Order of Cumulative Adjectives

(Does not require a comma)

Pronouns, articles (his, my, her, the, a, an, etc.)

Quantity (two, many)

Opinion (beautiful, expensive)

Size, Shape, Length (big, round, long)

Age (old, new young)

Color (red, blue, neon)

Nationality or religion (American, Catholic)

Material or purpose (cotton, athletic, yoga)

/// 

   I hope everyone survived Black Friday shopping with their credit cards intact because do I have a deal for you, and you don’t have to leave home to buy it.

Hometown Heroes, a Christmas Anthology . . . a collection of short stories that celebrate every day heroes. A portion of the proceeds is being donated to the Cajun Navy, a volunteer organization dedicated to helping neighbors in distress.

   Available for pre-order now on Amazon (digital is 99 cents).  I leave you with some blurbs to pique your interest:

Courtship and Courage by Carrie Dalby

    "Courtship and Courage,” a short story sequel to the novel FORTITUDE, takes readers back to Dauphin Island, Mon Louis Island, and Mobile, Alabama, in 1898 with Claire O'Farrell and Joe Walker.

When Time Stood Still by Chelsi Arnold & J D Boudreaux

    Jacqueline Jones leaves New York City, going ninety-to-nothing. Nick Lapointe leaves Louisiana at a much slower and easier pace. Their worlds collide in the Tennessee Smokey Mountains at Christmastime.

Hobbes House Noel by cj petterson

    Merrill Cowper plans to spend Christmas alone. Divorcé Bradley Warner plans to spend Christmas with his son. Hobbes House is the catalyst that unites everyone for a new beginning and a Merry Christmas.

Talking in Code by E. A. Hale

    Management terminates suffragette Evelyn and gives her job to war veteran James. Then a Christmas gala that fetes Choctaw Code Talkers and an explosion at the factory bring them together in a way that has everything to do with love. 

Safe Haven by Jolie St. Amant

    Year after year, Haven Cross returns to the Chateau Rouge to relive the bittersweet memory of the death of her fiancé. When she meets the charming Chance Montgomery, she’s unsure if she’s brave enough to risk giving her broken heart to a new love.

///

That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

Books make great Christmas gifts:

Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes

The anthology is still available on Kindle.  Buy at   https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k

Choosing Carter    https://amzn.to/2CJxs8Z

Deadly Star   https://amzn.to/2O8NFGZ

The Posse, a Western anthology   https://amzn.to/2EKUA9B

Pieces, a Mobile Writers Guild Anthology https://amzn.to/2Dk84Yr

Did you know . . . ?

cj Sez: In the Did You Know department: Did you know that the first official Thanksgiving Day occurred in 1789?

And since we won’t be together on the holiday . . .

//

   Once I spot a cliché in a book, it seems to multiply like rabbits. Clichés are taboo things that writers are advised to avoid like the plague, but perhaps there are uses for them. In case you’ve forgotten or regularly dismiss their value, the following is excerpted from a 2015 Lyrical Pens post.

   Caveat:  A cliché is, by definition, a trite and overused expression ... a figure of speech that has become tiresome and uninteresting.

   Several experts advise against the use of any clichés in the narrative. Author and editor Sol Stein is one of those and has this advice: “Cut every cliché you come across. Say it new and say it straight” (Stein on Writing, 1995).      IMO, that’s not necessarily an iron-clad rule. I believe there are instances where an author might find a cliché useful.

   I think we can agree that novels need a theme, a premise on which to hang the action and plot points. An overall theme continues as a thread through the novel. It lets a writer connect the dots of subplots to the main plot. One way to get a handle on finding your theme/premise might be to describe your novel in one sentence, as with a cliché. The neat thing is once you’ve discovered that one true sentence, you can polish it into a marketing blurb.

   If you’d like one of your characters to use clichés, I say, okay. Use them, but judiciously and in only that character’s dialogue. Remember, though, even phrases voiced new and straight as Stein advises will become distracting clichés when used too often, but time-worn examples can be good fodder for a theme. Think about it.

   Consider this theme/premise/cliché for a romance story: “Love will find a way.” Then every time you put an obstacle in a character’s path on the way to happily ever after, that obstacle can be overcome with some kind of act of love . . . even self-love (conceit, egotism) is fair game. 

   In the premise/cliché, “All’s fair in love and war,” the character is free to do whatever s/he can in order to capture the heart of a lover. 

   For a love story, that beautiful, angst-filled drama which doesn’t always end happily ever after, a perfect cliché might be, “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” 

   Or this tired, old saw for a YA or memoir: “A coming of age story.” That keeps the threads of the story tied to some agonizing affliction and growth of young people over a longer time span. 

   Find your cliché and tape it to your desk. It’ll keep you focused on the theme of your story, despite all those wonderful obstacles you throw in the way of the protagonist.

   If you have a different way of coming up with themes/premises, let me know how you do it. I love, love, love learning new methodologies. (This post is so full of clichés it's hard to read without grimacing.) 

Books are always great suggestions for Christmas gifts. I have stories in several anthologies with Christmas as the theme. Here are two to put on your shopping list. (Click on the name or cover to buy it now)

Hometown Heroes, a Christmas Anthology. It’s a dual purpose book: Entertaining contemporary romance stories for you and/or gifts, and the proceeds to benefit the Cajun Navy. My story is titled “Hobbes House Noel.”  …

This would be the year Merrill Cowper learns that the best Christmas gifts don’t always arrive wrapped in pretty paper and tied with a bow. Sometimes they don’t even fit under the Christmas tree.

Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes

The book has 70 stories written by adults recounting their extraordinary childhood Christmas memories. My story, written under my maiden name of Marilyn Olsein, is titled “Dancing with Daddy,” and relates how six-year-old me reconnected with my Swedish father after a major upheaval in our lives.

The anthology is still available on Kindle.  

That’s it for this post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

A few more Christmas gift ideas:

Choosing Carter    https://amzn.to/2CJxs8Z

Deadly Star   https://amzn.to/2O8NFGZ

The Posse, a Western anthology   https://amzn.to/2EKUA9B

Pieces, a Mobile Writers Guild Anthology   https://amzn.to/2Dk84Yr

GIVEAWAY CHALLENGE withdrawn.  I haven’t had a single taker. If you have any ideas about how to generate interest, let me know.  

Qrtly newsletter sign-up:  cjpetterson@gmail.com

cjpetterson/author on Facebook   

Amazon Central Author Page =  https://amzn.to/2v6SrAj

Simon&Schuster Author Page = https://bit.ly/2uo1M0Z

The War to End All Wars

cj Sez: One hundred years ago today, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the “war to end all wars” officially came to an end.

   Today Veterans Day, also called Poppy Day, commemorates the centennial of the end of WWI while honoring the sacrifices of all who lost their lives in wars.

   For those unfamiliar with Poppy Day, this memo from the American Legion explains:

    “Even in the darkest of times, flowers still find their way to the surface to bloom. Poppy seeds can lay fallow for years, yet bloom brilliantly when the soil is disturbed or when the soil is freshly dug. After the battles were fought in World War I, the blood red poppy flourished in France and Belgium when battlefields became burial grounds. The red flowers suddenly bloomed among the newly dug gravesites of fallen service members, turning the new graveyards into fields of red.

   "Surviving soldiers came to see the poppy as more than a flower—–it became a symbol of their sacrifice; a tribute to the price of freedom. Although all WWI veterans have since passed, 100 years later, the poppy has become a universal display of the sacrifices made by Americans and allied service members around the world.”

https://www.alaforveterans.org/National-Poppy-Day-Honors-Veterans-Sacrifice-for-Freedom/ 

//

   I thank God for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for my soul, and I thank the thousands of service people and their families for their sacrifices which ensured the singularly rare freedoms that I, as an American, enjoy.

//

   

Books are always great suggestions for gifts. 

BSP: I have stories in several anthologies with Christmas as the theme. Here are two to put on your shopping list:

Hometown Heroes, A Christmas Anthology

Pre-Order available now.   https://amzn.to/2PkI4Tb

     

   It’s a multi-purpose book: Entertaining contemporary romance short stories for you or as gifts for your friends, and the proceeds will benefit the Cajun Navy. 

(My story is titled “Hobbes House Noel.” Blurb: This would be the year Merrill Cowper learns that the best Christmas gifts don't always arrive wrapped in pretty paper and tied with a bow. Sometimes they don't even fit under the Christmas tree.)

Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes

   This book has 70 short memoirs written by adults recounting their extraordinary childhood Christmas memories.

   My story, written under my maiden name of Marilyn Olsein, is titled “Dancing with Daddy,” and relates how six-year-old me reconnected with my Swedish father after a major upheaval in our lives.

   The anthology is still available on Kindle.

   That’s it for this post. You all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

A few more Christmas gift ideas:

Choosing Carter    https://amzn.to/2CJxs8Z

Deadly Star   https://amzn.to/2O8NFGZ

The Posse, a Western anthology   https://amzn.to/2EKUA9B

Pieces, a Mobile Writers Guild Anthology   https://amzn.to/2Dk84Yr

GIVEAWAY CHALLENGE . . .

   If you’ve read any of my works, let me know you left a review at Goodreads, Amazon, wherever—good, bad, or simply “I read it.”—and I’ll put your name in the raffle hat to thank you. It doesn’t have to be a new review. The random name I draw on December 6 will receive a nice gift bag of goodies. I’ll post the winner’s name on my Facebook page, so be sure to stop by.

Qrtly newsletter sign-up:  cjpetterson@gmail.com

cjpetterson/author on Facebook   

Amazon Central Author Page =  https://amzn.to/2v6SrAj

Simon&Schuster Author Page = https://bit.ly/2uo1M0Z

Did you remember?

cj Sez: Did you remember to turn your clock back an hour?  I did, and when the alarm went off this morning at 6:30 a.m. but my internal clock kept saying it was really 5:30 a.m., I was a bit … annoyed.  

   By the by, I think I found the answer to why there is a time change twice a year. According to a USAtoday dot com article:

“The U.S. first implemented daylight saving during World War I as a way to conserve fuel with the Standard Time Act of 1918, also known as the Calder Act.”

   If you’re an author, there a correct way to write it in your stories (which I learned this week). The correct term is daylight “saving” (not savings) time, and the AP Style Guide says it’s properly all lower case.

  Okay, that finishes that topic until next March.

/// 

Passing along info:

Chicken Soup for the Soul is looking for stories for these upcoming books:

Life Lessons from My Cat - deadline Nov 30
Running for Good - deadline Dec 15
Stories About Angels - deadline Dec 31
Stories About Miracles - deadline Dec 31
The Golden Years or Your Second Wind deadline - Dec 30

https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics

///

   Books are always great suggestions for Christmas gifts. BSP: I have stories in several anthologies with Christmas as the theme. Here are two:

Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes

Back cover blurb:

“The joy of Christmas often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. For many people, fond memories of a childhood Christmas can bring back that special feeling. This book collects tales written by adults remembering their favorite Christmases of the past.”

Paul Harvey blurbed the front cover this way: “In a child’s eyes, Christmas is defined as never before.”

My story, written under my maiden name of Marilyn Olsein, is titled “Dancing with Daddy,” and relates how, as a six-year old, I reconnected with my Swedish father after a major upheaval in our lives.

The anthology is still available on Kindle.

Hometown Heroes, a Christmas Anthology will be available in time for the holiday. The publisher predicts it may even beat the projected Dec 4 launch date. Be sure to watch for it on Amazon. It’s a dual purpose book: Entertaining contemporary romance stories for you and/or gifts and proceeds to benefit the Cajun Navy. My story is titled “Hobbes House Noel.”

///

That’s it for this post. Please join me next week when I’ll write a bit about the significance of Poppy Day. You all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

A few more Christmas gift ideas:

Choosing Carter    https://amzn.to/2CJxs8Z

Deadly Star   https://amzn.to/2O8NFGZ

The Posse, a Western anthology   https://amzn.to/2EKUA9B

Pieces, a Mobile Writers Guild Anthology  https://amzn.to/2Dk84Yr

GIVEAWAY CHALLENGE . . .

If you’ve read any of my works, let me know you left a review at Goodreads, Amazon, wherever—good, bad, or simply “I read it.”—and I’ll put your name in the raffle hat. It doesn’t have to be a new review. The random name I draw on December 6 will receive a nice gift bag of goodies. I’ll post the winner’s name on my Facebook page, so be sure to stop by.

Qrtly newsletter sign-up:  cjpetterson@gmail.com

cjpetterson/author on Facebook   

Amazon Central Author Page =  https://amzn.to/2v6SrAj

Simon&Schuster Author Page = https://bit.ly/2uo1M0Z

Footnote: USAToday reference:   https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/11/01/daylight-saving-time-ends-sunday-get-ready-fall-back/1846836002/

When everyone else is complaining

cj Sez:  Remember the adage “Spring forward, Fall back?” Well, I’m now doing my civic duty and reminding you that Daylight Savings Time begins on the first Sunday in November…that’s next Sunday.

That means, if you’re in an area that celebrates DST, you need to turn your clock back one hour in the wee hours of the night between Saturday, Nov 3, and Sunday, Nov 4.

I’m not happy about losing an hour, but I plan to “fall back” my clock before going to bed next Saturday night.

As a result of DST, sunrise and sunset will be about an hour earlier on Sunday then it was on Saturday ... that gives people more daylight in the morning to get ready for church/work/school.

Why do we have DST? Allegedly to save energy. The practice was introduced in 2007 as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. I truly am not sure if it’s all about energy. After all, we either have to leave our lights on longer in the morning (standard time), or turn them on earlier in the evening (daylight savings time). Granted winter nights are longer than daylight hours, but doesn’t the usage equal itself out? I think there’s more to the story than that explanation. I think someone lobbied for more suntan time on the summer beaches.  What do you think?  

** **

This came across my Facebook page, from Grammarly and courtesy of a share from Mahala Church (Edit, Write, Teach …FB url    https://bit.ly/2OLDE7N ):

 

Grammarly says this is a fool-proof way to determine if the sentence you wrote is passive voice. Re-write your sentence this way after the verb:

“She was killed [by zombies.]” <—- Makes sense?  Yes. It's passive voice.

“Zombies killed [by zombies] her.” <—- Makes sense?  No. It's active voice.

(From Grammarly Blog)

** **

BSP (Blatant Self Promotion) I have a story in the soon-to-be-released Hometown Heroes, A Christmas Anthology

The anthology is about Community. Courage. Compassion.

Hometown Heroes brings you five Christmas romances that celebrate everyday heroes.
From paranormal to contemporary to historical, there's something here to fill everyone with the spirit of the season.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Cajun Navy Relief, an organization dedicated to helping neighbors in distress

Blurb for my story:

“Hobbes House Noel”   Merrill Cowper rents her beloved Hobbes House lakefront cabin to a stranger and becomes an unlikely hometown heroine when she saves his child from the possibility of a watery death. This would be the year she learns that the best Christmas gifts don’t always arrive wrapped in pretty paper and tied with a bow. Sometimes they don’t even fit under the Christmas tree.

The release date is December 4 . . . watch for it!

That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. PS: Be sure to enter the contest below for a chance to win a gift bag of goodies.

cj

A few more Christmas gift ideas:

Choosing Carter    https://amzn.to/2CJxs8Z

Deadly Star   https://amzn.to/2O8NFGZ

The Posse, a Western anthology   https://amzn.to/2EKUA9B

Christmas through a Child’s Eyes   https://amzn.to/2JjNrMn

GIVEAWAY CHALLENGE . . .

Let me know you’ve left a new review on any of my work at Goodreads, Amazon, wherever—good, bad, or simply “I read it.”—and I’ll put your name in the raffle hat. The random name I draw on December 6 will receive a nice gift bag of goodies. I’ll post the winner’s name on my Facebook page, so be sure to stop by.

Qrtly newsletter sign-up:  cjpetterson@gmail.com

cjpetterson/author on Facebook   

Amazon Central Author Page =  https://amzn.to/2v6SrAj

Simon&Schuster Author Page = https://bit.ly/2uo1M0Z